Manicuring device or the like



Oct. 3, 1950 v. D. RoosA 2,524,531

mxcuams nEvIcE on THE LIKE Filed June 16, 1948 :NVENmR rndn j. Z005@ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANICURINGDEVICE 0R THE LIKE Vernon D. Roosa, Ardsley, N. Y.

Application June 16, 1948, Serial No. 33,408 9 claims. (ci. 1514o.2)

The present invention relates to manicuring devices and moreparticularly to a. manicuring device for removing coatings or coveringssuch as polish from fingernails.

Fingernail coatings or polishes are extensively utilized by women forimparting smooth finishes and attractive appearances to ngernails; someof these coatings or polishes are transparent and others are of variouscolors. In some cases a colored polish is first applied to thefingernails and thereafter an outermostv sealing" or protective coat isapplied. The various coatings are generally applied in liquid form, bymeans of a brush, and dry to form a solidified covering over the outersurface of the nails. After application and solidiication the coatingsor coverings are subject to chipping. Peeling, or

marring, which results in an unsightly appearance. In such instances itis frequently desirable to remove a coating or polish in order to applya fresh one. Inother cases it may be desirable to remove a particularfingernail coating in order to apply a new coating of a diierent shadeor color.

The nail coatings or coverings generally comprise a lacquer-likematerial and removal of them is facilitated by softening or dissolvingthem with some suitable solvent or remover liquid. Such a removaloperation is often messy and accompanied by spilling of .solvent and thesplattering or dripping of solvent and dissolved colored or clearcoating material onto clothing, nearby furniture, rugs, or the like. Dueto objectionable messiness and difficulty of removal many women preferto laboriously peel the solidified coverings from their nails ratherthan go through the procedure of dissolving them and washing them away.

The present invention aims to overcome the above and other difiicultiesor disadvantages by providing a new and improved manicuring device whichmay be used for readily and conveniently removing fingernail coatingswith a minimum amount of trouble and without the objectionable messinessusually encountered with the removal operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a. new and improvedmanicuring device for removing fingernail coatings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmanicuring device for removing iingernail coatings withoutobjectionablel splattering or spilling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and Iimprovedmanicuring device ior use v adapted to retain a closure cap l havingintery in removing coatings from fingernails while the finger issubstantially enclosed or surrounded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmanicuring device which combines a solvent supply with acoating-removing member.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmanicuring device adapted to accommodate displaced solvent.

Other and further `objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of tl e illustrative embodiments about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention and various modifications'thereof have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description.The preferred embodiment and the modifications are not intended to beexhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles ofthe invention and their application in practical use to therebyenableothers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in variousembodimentsand modifications as are best adapted to the particular usecontemplated.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of container or hollowmember which may be used with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. top plan view, partly broken away, of the manicuring deviceshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of cleaning element;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing another form of the presentinvention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a further form of the invention;and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the present invention in the form ofa closure or cover member.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawings there isshown a container, bottle,v receptacle, or hollow member I, preferablymade of glass, and provided at its upper portion adjacent the mouth 3thereof with screw closure engaging means 2, such as screw threads orlugs,

nally disposed complementary container engaging means 5 such as screwthreads or lugs. The closure or cover member I may contain a. seal- `thereceptacle I.

ing liner 'I adapted to seat against the container rim and seal itagainst leakage of fluids out of the container or hollow member I. Whilethe container I is preferably made of glass any other suitable material,for example metal, may be utilized: the closure cap or cover 4 may bemade from some synthetic molding material orbe formed from metal. Thereceptacle I contains a cleaning member or brush l.

The cleaning member 8, shown as of the brushlike variety comprising aplurality of twisted together wires forming a core for retainingscrubbing means such as bristles, has a portion or portions I projectinginto the container I in such manner that it may be readiw -contracted bya ngernail on a nger inserted into the mouth opening of the container.One end portion Il of the cleaning member 8 is illustrated positionedbeneath an inwardly extending side wall portion Il oi' the container,which forms what may be termed a ledge or shoulder, to thereby retainthe brush-like member 8 in position in the container. An opposite legportion or portions Il of the cleaning member may extend angularly fromthe first mentioned leg along the bottom of the container and terminateadjacent an opposite side wall. Thus the cleaning means hassubstantially an L shape when viewed from the side as in Fig. 3. Asillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the cleaning member or element is bent tobe substantially U- shaped with the pair of spaced legs I4 eachextending along the bottom of the container and with opposite brush orcleaning element portions extending upwardly to a point adjacent theunderside of the inwardly extending container wall portion I3.

The lsubstantially horizontally extending leg portion or portions I4assist in retaining the cleaning member within the container I. The freeends of the leg portions I4 terminating close to a wall portion of thecontainer retain the upwardly extending vbrush portion in positionbeneath the inwardly extending container wall portion I3; thus thecleaning element is positively assembled against dropping out of thecontainer.

A cleaning element 8 may be assembled with the hollow or concave memberby first inserting the leg portion into the mouth 3 thereof and thenturning the element so that the upper end II thereof moves or snapsoutwardly beneath the container wall portion I3. Other methods ofassembly may be utilized and the foregoing is illustrative of oneconvenient assembling method.

In assembled position with the container it will be noted (Fig. 2) thatadjacent portions of the substantially U-shaped or reversely bentcleaning member illustrated therein cooperate to form a substantiallyV-shaped opening or recess I6 which faces inwardly toward the centralpart of A nger may be inserted into the mouth 3 of the receptacle toposition the iingernail in the V-shaped groove I6; movement of thefinger up and down along the cleaning element while in the groove I6causes portions of the A cleaning element to reach and wipe oversubstantially all portions of the fingernail.

In usage the receptacle I will contain a suitable amount of liquid nailpolish remover or solvent I'I. It has been found very satisfactory toiill the receptacle I approximately one-third full of liquid solvent orremover, to some such position as is indicated generally in Fig. 3.After some such quantity of solvent material has been placed in thereceptacle the receptacle may be shaken to wet the cleaning element 8.As a fingernail is rubbed along the surface of the element, the con#bined action of the solvent and the rubbing of the element eiectivelyand quickly remove the polish or other coatings. The removing action isfacilitated by inserting the finger and nail into the rccess or grooveI8 (Fig. 2).

tacle may be agitated so as to eiiect washing and cleansing of thecleaning element 8 by liquid contained within the receptacle I. Theliquid may thereafter be poured out or a closure cap 4 may be applied toseal the receptacle until such time as it is desired to again use themanicuring device.

It will be noted in Figs l, 2 and 3 that the sid..` wall of thecontainer I is provided with a volumeincreasing shape or bulge I9. 'I'heutilization of such a volume-increasing portion has been found desirablesince it minimizes the amount of rise ci liquid solvent or remover uponinsertion of a linger into the liquid. Insertion of a nger displacessome of the liquid and the outwardly bulged portion I9 serves toaccommodate the displaced liquid so as to minimize the amount of rise ofthe liquid to any objectionable extent. 'I'his feature minimizes thepossibility of spilling or splattering the solvent. Thevolume-increasing portion I9 may extend annularly in a horizontaldirection around the container or may slant or spiral around it. Use ofthe volume-increasing bulge I9 is not essential to the operation of themanicuring device but is desirable.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper vertical wall portion of thecontainer is located inwardly with respect to the lower vertical wallportion I5 but this is not imperative. It is desirable that the cleaningmember 8 be retained against accidental removal from the container;preferably it is held firmly. Other means and methods of retaining acleaning element within a receptacle of the manicuring device will behereinafter described.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form of cleaning element or brushwhich differs from that of Figs. 2 and 3 in that it is essentially ofdouble U-shape or M-shape. A brush of this latter construction affords alarger cleaning area against which a, fingernail may be rubbed. Theassembly of the brush of Fig. 4 with a receptacle may be similar to thathereinabove described in connection with the assembly of the cleaningelement 8 to the receptacle I. While the leg portions I4 and Ila of thecleaning elements are illustrated substantially parallel with each otherthey may be spread or flared apart in the event such is deemed toprovide enhanced retention of the cleaning element with a container orreceptacle.

In usage splattering or spraying of solvent and dissolved nail coveringsis confined to the interior of the receptacle I. The finger of a useroccupies a portion of the receptacle mouth opening and minimizes escapeof solvent spray or droplets out of the mouth opening.

In the form of the manicuring device illustrated in Fig. 5 a cleaningelement or brush 20 of substantially circular shape has portions thereofextending into a bulge or enlargement 22 in the wall of a receptacle 23.The cleaning member 20 thus occupies at least a portion of thevolume-increasing enlargement provided by the bulge 22. An amount oi'liquid solvent or remover 25 may be contained at the lower portion ofthe receptacle and may wet the cleaning element 20 upon agitation of thereceptacle. The finger of a user may be inserted into the opening of thecleaning element 20 and rubbed After the polish has y been removed fromthe fingers of a user the recepbulged portion 22 of the receptacle wallserves the double purpose of retaining the cleaning element 2li and alsoaccommodating such liquid as may be displaced due to insertion of aiinger into liquid solvent material. y

The cleaning element 2l may be of closed circular form or ofsubstantially C-shape and may' be assembled with the receptacle 23 byinserting it into the mouth 2| thereof and pressing it downwardly untilportions expand outwardly into the enlargement 22. A closure member 4acarrying a sealing liner la may'be utilized to close the receptacle whennot in use.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrateda form of the invention comprising acontainer or receptacle 23 having a dividing wall 29 forming twoseparate compartments 3l ,and 32. One compartment contains a cleaningmember or brush 34 having an end portion 35 projecting beneath an edgeor shoulder 3l which forms a recess 38. The lower end of the cleaningelement 34 has a substantially horizontal leg portion 40 which extendsalong the lower part of the compartment 3| and terminates adjacent anupwardly extending wall portion. The cleaning member 34 may be assembledby moving the leg portion 40 and brush-like portion 34 downwardly intothe container until the end portion 35 is in position to snap beneaththe edge 3l or into the recess 38. The cleaning member 34 may thus beretained securely in position at all times with the container 28. Incertain instances it might be desirable to have a, portion of thecleaning element 34 clip over a shorter dividing wall instead ofengaging with the edge 31 and recess 38.

Polish remover or solvent may be contained in each of the compartments3| and 32 or a polish remover may be contained, for example, in thecompartment 3| and a rinsing solution in the compartment 32.

The volume-increasing bulge illustrated in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3and 5 may be utilized with either one or both of the compartments 3| and32 illustrated in Fig. 6 and a `closure cap and sealing liner or gasketsimilar to that previously described may be utilized with the manicuringdevice of Fig. 6; any other suitable closer, such as a cork or plug typemay of course be used.

A cooperating cleaning member projection 36 and retention recess 33,such as disclosed in Fig. 6, may be used to retain together in assembledrelationship the cleaning elements and receptacles previously describedand illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5 and to be described in connectionwith Fig. 7.

In Fig. '7 the invention is shown in combination with a hollow membersuch as a closure cap or cover Amember 4l, which may be of some suitablesynthetic plastic material or of metal, carrying a sealing gasket 42. Asubstantially annular cleaning element 43 similar to that of Fig. 5 isshown retained beneath an inwardly projecting shoulder, edge or lug 45of the closure member; the cleaning element may be assembled with theclosure 4I in a manner similar to that described in connection with theassembly together of the cleaning element and receptacle of Fig. 5. Inusage an amount of liquid solvent may be poured into the invertedclosure 4| and the manicuring device utilized as previously described.After usage the liquid may be poured out of the closure and the latterused for closing 6 the receptacle which contains the liquid solvent orremover.

While the receptacles or hollow members of the present manicuring devicehave been shown as substantially round their body portions may besquare, ov'al, octagonal, etc.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improvedmanicuring device which is adapted to hold a constant supply of soiventor polish remover. Splattering, dripping or other objectionable spillingof the solvent and dissolved coatings are minimized or entirelyprevented. A volume-increasing enlargement further minimizes thepossibility of spilling a liquid onto surrounding objects. The containerand cleaning element are retained together against accidentaldisengagement and the manicuring device is ot simple and inexpensiveconstruction.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A device for removing coating from fingernails, in-combination, abottle having a bottom, a side wall portion, and a mouth portion havinga substantially vertical axis generally perpendicular to said bottom, ashoulder inside the bottle formed in one of said portions, and cleaningmeans within said bottle comprising a relativelyv stiff core carryinglaterally projecting yieldable scrubbing means, said cleaning meanshaving a portion located under said shoulder and said scrubbing meansprojecting inwardly beyond aninner surface of said mouth to be engagedby the fingernail of a finger inserted into an opening through the mouthof the bottle, said cleaning means underlying a minor portion only ofthe opening through said mouth, leaving the major portion of said mouthopening directly over an unobstructed portion of said bottom.

2. A device for removing coating from fingernails, comprising a hollowmember having a bottom, a side wall and a mouth suiciently `wide forfree and unobstructed insertion and withdrawal of a finger andcontaining a liquid coating solvent for wetting a scrubbing-surface, incombination with a bendable elongated cleaning meansmounted in saidhollo'w member having a total length greater than the height of saidside wall but bent to iit therein and to terminate below the upper endof said mouth, said cleaning means having intermediate its endslaterally projecting means forming a scrubbing surface adjacent a sidewall portion of the hollow member and facing generally toward thevertical axis of the hollow member for contacting and rubbing'againstthe surface of a fingernail on an inserted nger.

3. A device for removing coating from lingernails and adapted to containa liquid coating solvent,y comprising the combination of a containerhaving bottom and side walls, a mouth, a shoulder adjacent an upperportion of the side wall, and cleaning means in said container having aleg portion in engagement with a wall of the container and having anangularly disposed portion projecting from said leg portion, saidangularly disposed portion carrying scrubbing means adapted to be wet bya liquid within the container and to be contacted by an insertedfingernail to wipe coating therefrom, part of said angularly disposedportion being located beneath said shoulder to retain the cleaning meansA in the container, said cleaning means underlying,`

a minor portion only of an opening through said mouth, leaving the majorportion of said mouth opening directly over an unobstructed portion ofsaid bottom.

4. A device for removing coating from fingernails, comprising acontainer having a bottom, a side wall and a mouth sufficiently wide forunobstructed insertion and withdrawal of a iinger and for containing aliquid coating solvent, in combination with a cleaning means mounted insaid container having a portion thereof located adjacent and extendingalong a side wall portion of the container, said cleaning meanscomprising a plurality of twisted together wires carrying laterallyprojecting bristles forming a scrubbing surface facing generally towardthe vertical axis of the container for contacting and rubbing againstthe surface of a fingernail on an inserted linger, and means overlyingan upper portion of the cleaning means and holding said cleaning meansin the container, said bristles being adapted to be wet by said liquidfrom within the container.

5. A device for removing coating from fingernails and for containing aliquid coating solvent, comprising the combination of a container havinga bottom wall, a side wall, a mouth, and a ledge joining said side walland said mouth, and cleaning means in said container having a pluralityof spaced apart legs with at least one of said legs in engagement withthe bottom of the container, said legs being joined by a generallyvertically disposed portion of substantially inverted ,U- shape, saidU-shaped portion carrying brushlike means adapted to be wet by a liquidwithin the container and adapted to be contacted by the ilngernail of aninserted finger to wipe coating therefrom, said cleaning means having anupper portion beneath said ledge to retain the cleaning means in thecontainer. i

6. A device for removing coating from ilngernails and for containing aliquid coating solvent, comprising the combination of a container havinga bottom, a side wall, a mouth, and a ledge portion joining the sidewall and mouth, and cleaning means in said container including a loopportion disposed at least partiallyv beneath said ledge portion toretain the cleaning means in the container and having a leg portionextending from said loop portion and resting against the containerbottom, said loop portion carrying brushlike means adapted to be wet byliquid from within the container and adapted to be contacted by thefingernail o! an inserted finger to wipe coating therefrom.

7. A device for use in removing coating from fingernails comprising thecombination of a bottle having walls forming a bottom, a body portion,

and a mouth, and a shoulder connecting an upper part of the body portionwith a lower part of the mouth, said mouth being suillciently wide forunobstructed insertion and withdrawal of a finger, a brushlike memberwithin said bottle comprising a plurality oi' wires twisted togetherwith bristlelike members secured therebetween for at least a portion ofthe length of said wires, said twisted together wires having a reversebend therein with portions forming legs extending from said bend and thelegs being further bent into substantially L shape, with a portion ofsaid brushlike member under the shoulder and portions of the L shapeportions of said legs in engagement with one of said walls for holdingthe brushlike member in position.

8. A device for use in removing coating from fingernails, comprising thecombination of a bottle having a body portion, a mouth, and a pair ofvertically spaced horizontal walls, one of said walls forming a bottomand the other forming a shoulder connecting the mouth and the bodyportion, said mouth being suillciently wide for unobstructed insertionand withdrawal of a ilnger,

a brushlike member within said bottle comprising a plurality of wirestwisted vtogether with bristlelike members secured therebetween for atleast a portion of the length of said wires, said twisted together wireshaving a substantially L shape portion with one leg thereof extendingsubstantially vertically and terminating at said bottom and the otherleg extending substantially horizontally, a portion of one of said legsbeing disposed below said shoulder for holding the brushlike member inposition.

9. A device as claimed as claim 1 in which said shoulder is an upperpart of a groove and said cleaning means is seated within and extendsalong a portion of the groove.

VERNON D. ROOSA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 113,076 McKeen Jan. 24, 193930,270 Warren Oct. 2, 1880 204,625 Silsbee June 4, 1878 208,758 NewtonOct. 8, 1879 571,438 Harlow Nov. 17, 1896 1,582,008 Hammond Apr. 20,1928 1,900,028 Snider Mar. '1, 1933 2,282,672 Nelson a May l2. 1942FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,928 Germany Oct. 16, 1891

